AFC Telford 3 Guiseley 2: Guiseley reflect on what might have been after Telford snatch away glory

The West Yorkshire club, underdogs at the home of former Conference side AFC Telford, were 11 minutes away from reaching the highest level of non-league football for the first time in their history before succumbing to the home side’s onslaught.

They conceded the decisive goal in the second minute of stoppage time, Phil Trainer the man getting the dramatic winner that sends Telford – managed by former Sheffield Wednesday winger Andy Sinton – back up to the Blue Square Bet Premier Division.

For Steve Kittrick’s men there is nothing but utter despair, although when the dust settles he and his team and their supporters will be able to look back on the club’s achievements in their first year in the Blue Square Bet North with enormous pride.

Two goals either side of the half-time interval gave the Nethermoor men hope yesterday of moving one step closer to the Football League.

They trailed to a ninth-minute penalty from Sean Newton.

But in front of a healthy crowd of 5,436 at the New Bucks Head, top scorer Jamie Walshaw levelled from the penalty spot.

Guiseley then went and turned the game on its head when Darryn Stamp gave the Yorkshire side the lead on 47 minutes.

But last season’s UniBond Premier Division champions could not hold out.

Firstly Liam Murray equalised on 79 minutes and then as the hosts laid seige to the visitors’ goal, Trainer popped up to break their hearts and send the home fans into raptures in Sinton’s first season in management.

Four of Sinton’s squad – Ryan Young, Stuart Whitehead, Carl Rodgers and Andy Brown – were all in the side beaten at the same stage by Gateshead in 2009.

Another two, yesterday’s hero Trainer and Jon Adams, only missed out through suspension and injury respectively.

Sinton approached the game confident that a desire to avoid a repeat of that heartache would drive his team on.

“I’ve got a few players who experienced the heartache of falling at the final hurdle two years ago,” said Sinton.

“I’ve spoken to them over the last couple of months and I know they are using that feeling of dejection, of horribleness, as motivation.”

Telford have completed a remarkable return to the top tier of non-League football just seven years after the former club went bust.

Sinton himself says that winning promotion with the Bucks matches his best achievements as a player — including winning 12 England caps and a Wembley cup final.

“As a player I was a member of a Tottenham side that won the League Cup at Wembley and I still remember it as if it was yesterday — running around the pitch, singing songs with the fans and making a complete fool of myself in the after-match celebrations,” he said.

“But for me personally, getting promotion with Telford ranks up there with that or playing for England.”